Apparatus for dispensing methyl bromide



y? 1939- P. H. RICHERT 2,156,869

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING METHYL BROMIDE Filed Dec. 17, 1937 INVENTORpau/ H. Q/c/rer/ ATTORNEY.

. Patented May.2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORDISPENSING METHYL BROMIDE Application December 17, 1937, Serial No.180,470

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispenser for a volatile fluidas methylbromide. This material has recently come in to use as a fumigant. Atordinary temperatures it only exists in a liquid state apparatuspermitting accurate dosages of the material to be dispensed, simply andwith ease,

. so that the cost of application be low.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensingapparatus for methyl bromide wherein the vapor pressure of the methylbromide is utilized in the dispensing.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred form of apparatus of this invention is disclosed.

V In the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is aside elevational view so illustrating the apparatus of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustratingconstruction of the device. I

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3--2 of Figure 2.

In accordance with this invention I provide a suitable frame 6 withinwhich is positioned a container 7 for the fluid to be dispensed, methylbromide. The frame 6 includes a boss 8 into which is threaded ascrew-threaded member 8 having a handle ll. Plate ii extends across thebottom 0! the container I. This plate is carried by member 8. Uponrotation of handle i0 plate ll II at the opposite end of theframe.

Container" 1 is conveniently in the form of a can made of tinned sheetiron, the can rims It at the ends of the can engaging plate I l andwasher l2. Washer I2 is made of Duprene or other material suitable tothe fluid to be dispensed. This washer is supported'by plate i3 aboutcentering ring l6 which fits within the 00- operating rim. l5 ofcontainer 1. 55 In accordance with this invention means are iect of thepresent invention is to provide a novel forces the container againstwasher I2 on plate' provided for releasing the contents of thereceptacle I in such a manner that the volatile fluid contained thereinunder a high pressure is controlled.

To this end a valve body 2l'is mounted upon plate l3. This body includesa valve seat 22 cooperating with a valve member 23, on valve stem 24.The valve body cooperates with threaded portion 26 in the valve stem sothat the valve member 23 can be moved toward and away from seat 22 whenthe valve stem is turned by means of handle 21.. The valve stem 24includes a projection 28 having a conical end 29 thereon, the projection28 extending through inlet 3| to the valve body in plate l3.

The length of projection 28 is so determined that when valve seat 22 isengaged by valve member 23 point 29 will pierce end closure 32 ofcontainer I, making a small aperture 33 therein, and releasing thecontents of the can, which are under pressure, into the inlet 3| of thevalve body. The valve body includes an outlet 34 connected to a conduit36 which normally extends to an atmospheric release indicated in Figure2 by the broken end of the pipe 31.

If the contents of the can are released merely by moving valve member 23toward and away from valve seat 22, the total emission-of methyl bromidefrom the container cannot be quicklyand simply determined and overdosingas well as underdosing may result. To facilitate measurement I provide atwo-way valve indicated at M. This valve includes a valve plug 42suitably apertured to connect inlet passage 43 in the valve body withpassage 44 or to connect passage 44 with outlet passage 46 which in turnconnects to the outlet 31 of conduit 36. Mounted upon the valve body andin communication with passage 44 is a measuring vessel generallyindicated at 48. This vessel includes a base 49 screwed into the valvebody. A metal guard 5| is also mounted upon the base 49 and within thisguard is positioned a glass tube 52. This glass tube is sealed at eachend of the guard by Duprene washers 53 to make a fluid-tight connection.The guard is relieved as at 54 so that an operator can observe thepresence of fluid in the glass tube.

- In operation, an operator turns handle 21, assuming an unopenedcontainer to be in position in the frame 6, whereby the end is puncturedand the methyl bromide is released into the inlet 3|. Upon raising valvemember 23 away from seat 22 the methyl bromide is forced by its vaporpressure into conduit 36 and into inlet conduit 43 in the valve body 4|.If the two-way valve plug 42 is turned by its handle 66 to that positionin which it appears in Figure 2, then the methyl bromide flows into themeasuring chamber. Movement of the valve plug between its two positionsis limited by pin 51 which travels in groove 58 in the valve body. Whenthe measuring chamber is filled with methyl bromide, movement of thevalve plug in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, whereby passages 44 and46 are connected,

releases the charge of methyl bromide in the measuring vessel throughoutlet 31. Upon exhausting the measuring vessel, atmospheric pressure isadmitted into vessel 52 so that this provides a low pressure source inthe apparatus, permitting subsequent filling because of the methylbromide in container 1 being usually at a pressure in excess ofatmospheric. This operation permits of a relatively satisfactory andaccurate dosage of methyl bromide to be dispensed readily, an operatormerely having to operate the valve plug by its handle 56. The measuringchamber shown can be replaced by another of a diiierent size,

While ordinarily atmospheric temperature is suificient to create enoughvapor pressure of methyl bromide in container 1 to cause emission of themethyl bromide therefrom, in some instances, particularly when workingin low temperature regions, or in ice houses, for example, the methylbromide will be close to its boiling point and will not vaporize to anextent suflicient to create a high pressure. Under these circumstancesit may be desirable to place the methyl bromide under pressure, and tothis end I provide an inlet 6| having an air valve 62 so that byattaching a suitable pump, extra gas pressure can be provided.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device of the character described comprising a closedframe having an aperture therein to admit and receive a con tainer,means at one end of said frame for engaging said container and forcingsaid container toward the opposite end of said frame, a gasket betweensaid container and said opposite end, a valve carried by said oppositeend and including a valve seat, and a valve stem carrying an endprojecting beyond said seat and puncturing a container to form its ownaperture in said cointainer when said container is positioned in saidframe and when said valve is on its seat, said stem moving out of saidcontainer upon opening of said valve and moving into said aperture insaid container upon closing of said valve.

2. A dispensing device of the character described, a plate, a gasket onsaid plate, said gasket having an aperture therein, means for retaininga container against said gasket in a sealing engagement with saidgasket, a valve body carried by said plate and including a valve seat,and a valve stem carrying an end projecting beyond said seat and passedthrough said apertured gasket to puncture a container to form its ownaperture in said container when said container is retained against saidgasket and when said valve is on its seat, said stem moving out of saidcontainer upon opening of said valve and moving into said aperture insaid container upon closing of said valve.

PAUL'H. RICHERT.

